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SOLDIERS' 

NATIONAL CEMETERY, 

AT 

GETTYSBURG. PENNSYLVANIA. 



SOLDIERS 



NAT-IONAL CEMETERY' 



CtET,TY.SBURCt, PENNSYLVANIA, 



\j4^i^dX> 



(X/y\iit>\^ -^i-' .*-c.--„.-«-c— -■ •«•- 



TO THK LEa:i SL ATURE. 



INDIANAPOLIS: 

W . R . H L L W A Y , STATE PRINTER, 
18 6 5. 






MA\ 2 e 1913 



»5' t'i 



SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY, GETTYSBURG, 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

[by telegraph.] 

Washington, August lOtb, 1863. 

W. T. Dennis: 

I desire to buy some ground at Gettysburg for a Cemetery for our 
soldiers. Please ascertain full particulars, price etc. and inform me. 

0. P. MORTON. 

Gettysburg, Pa., August 13th, 1863. 

To His Excellencjj, 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir: — The inclosed circular embodies the plan agreed upon with 
agents of several States represented here, and it has been submitted 
to the Governors of all States named in it for their concurrence. It 
is desirable to have as little delay as possible in getting your reply, 
as the bodies of our soldiers are in many cases so much exposed as 
to require prompt attention, and the ground should be speedily 
arranged for their reception. Pennsylvania has bought a very suit- 
able piece of ground on one of the most prominent parts of the bat- 
tle field, and His Excellency Governor Curtin, authorized me to say 
to you, that if your State desires a conveyance in fee simple of your 
burial ground in the cemetery, Pennsylvania will make a deed to you 
for it. Otherwise she will hold the title in trust for the purposes 
designated in the circular. 

With great respect, I subscribe myself, 

Your Excellency's obedient servant, 

(Signed) DAVID WILLS, Agent. 

Gettysburg, Pa., Aug. 12th, 1863. 

To His Excellency Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir : — It having been proposed by the Governor of Pennsylvania, 
hat a cemetery be established at Gettysburg, Pa., for the burial of 



Union soldiers killed in the second battle there, and the matter hav- 
ing been committed by him to the charge of David Wills of Gettys- 
burg, with authority to apply to the Governors of the several States 
Avhose Soldiers were in the battle for their cooperation, and to ar- 
range the details for the carrying out of the project. The following 
plan is proposed by David Wills, by authority of Gov. Curtin to the 
several States interested. 

1. The State of Pennsylvania to purchase the ground, about 
twelve acres, on the battle field, near the present Gettysburg Ceme • 
tery, and take the title in fee, and the ground to be devoted in 
perpetuity to the object. 

2. All the bodies of soldiers who fell in defence of the Union, to 
be taken up from the battle field without unnecessary delay and 
deposited in the cemetery, those that can be designated by name, in 
graves marked by a small head stone with a number upon it, and the 
others in a common grave to be marked by some appropriate stone, 
a record to be kept of the names indicated by the numbers on the 
stones. The dead of each State where known, to be buried by 
themselves in the particular lot set apart to the State. The whole 
expense of this to be carried to a common account. 

3. The ground to be enclosed by a well built stone wall from 
stone found on or near the premises, also a keeper's house to be 
erected on the lot at a cost of about $2,000, and the grounds to be 
tastefully laid out and adorned with trees and shrubberry, all this 
expense to be carried to a common account. 

4. A suitable monument to be erected on the ground at the com- 
mon expense, at a cost not exceeding $10,000, if it shall cost more, 
only that sura to be charged to the common account. 

5. All the foregoing expenses stated to be chargeable to a com- 
mon account, (to-wit : under heads 2, 3 and 4) are to be apportioned 
among the States having soldiers to be buried in the Cemetery, to- 
wit : The States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachu- 
setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wis- 
consin and Minnesota, each State to be assessed according to its pop- 
ulation, as indicated by the number of its representatives in Con- 
gress. 

6. After the original outlay, the ground to be kept in order and 
the house and fence in repair, by the State of Pennsylvania. 

7. It is expressly stipulated that the whole expense chargeable to 
the common account, shall not exceed f 35,000. 



8. Each State may, if it pleases, appoint an agent, who shall act 
■with David Wills, Agent for Pennsylvania, and other State Agents, 
in carrying out the foregoing plans. 

Respectfully submitted, by authority of A. G. Curtin, Governor of 
Pennsylvania. 

(Signed) DAVID WILLS, Agent. 



Executive Department op Indiana, ) 
Indianapolis, Ind., August 20th, I860. j" 

David WiUSj Esq., 

Agent of State of Pennsylvania, Getty ishurgh. 

Dear Sir: — I have received your letter of the 13th inst., with 
your circular letter of the 12th inst. enclosed, in relation to estab- 
lishing a cemetery for the burial of Union Soldiers killed in the re- 
cent battle at Gcttysburgh. The general plan proposed by you, by 
authority of His Excellency, Governor Curtin, meets with my ap- 
probation. On the part of the State of Indiana I will unite with the 
other States interested in carrying out that plan, subject, of course, 
to such necessary amendments and modifications as may be hereafter 
agreed upon by said States. 

Some two weeks since I appointed Col. Wm. T. Dennis, of Indi- 
ana, temporarily residing at Washington city, to ascertain the terms 
upon which grounds for the burial of Indiana soldiers killed at Get- 
tysburg, could be obtained, and to collect such facts in relation thereto 
as would give me a full understanding of the whole subject. Having 
received no report from him, I shall at once instruct him to visit and 
confer freely with you, and to take such steps, on the part of this 
State, as may be immediately necessary for the proper re-interment 
of our gallant dead. 

Yours, very truly, 
(Signed,) ' 0. P. MORTON, 

Governor of Indiana. 



6 

Executive Department of Indiana, \ 
Iiulianapolis, Ind., August 20th, 18G3. j 

Co?. Wm. T. Dennis, Washington, D. C. 

Sir: — Enclosed I have the honoi^ to hand you copies of two let- 
ters received from David Wills, Esq., Agent of His Excellency, the 
Governor of Pennsylvanifi, in relation to the establishment of a Cem- 
etery for the burial of Union Soldiers killed at the recent battle of 
Gettysburg. The plan proposed by Mr. Wills has been approved, 
and will be carried out by me, on the part of the State, subject, of 
course, to such necessary modifications and amendments as may be 
hereafter agreed upon by the several States interested. 

You were instructed by me, by letter of the 10th instant, to ascer- 
tain upon what terms a suitable lot of ground, for the burial of Indi- 
ana troops who fell at Gettysburg, could be obtained, and to report 
such facts in relation thereto as would give me a full understanding 
of the whole subject. Having received no report from you I infer 
nothing has been done. 

I now desire you, as my agent, to proceed to Gettysburg without 
delay, and confer freely with Mr. Willis, the Agent of tlie State of 
Pennsylvania, in regard to his plans. Select a suitable lot in the 
tract purchased for the cemetery, (if the ground has not already been 
divided among the States,) and take such steps, on the part of this 
State, as may be immediately required for the proper re-interment of 
our gallant dead. 

Report to me fully as early as practicable. 

Expenses necessarily incurred in carrying out these instructions, 
together with reasonable compensation for your services, will be paid 
by this Department. Yours very truly, 

(Signed,) 0. P. MORTON, 

Governor of Iiidixna. 



Gettysburg, September 15th, 1863. 
To His Excellency, (he Governor of Indiana: 

Sir: — It seems to be the general wish that the stipulation in our 
circular of details, in reference to the Soldiers' Cemetery here, should 
be so modified that all should be buried together, and not separated 
into States. I have given the subject much attention, and have taken 



much counsel on it, and am now decidedly of opinion that we should 
entirely ignore State lines in this sacred project, and bory all together 
in these grounds as they fell. 

There are many reasons for, which I need not now advance. Will 
it be agreeable to you to have this modification made ? 

It is contemplated having a consecration of the grounds on the 22d 
cf October next, with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion. The 
pi eminent feature in those ceremonies will be the oration, and there 
seems to be a desire, (and I may add, it meets my hearty approval,) 
to have Hon. Edward Everett, of Massachusetts, deliver the address. 
Will it accord with your wishes to have him invited for that purpose ? 
The time for preparation is short, if he accepts the invitation, and 
therefore I solicit your immediate reply. 
I am with great resppct, 

Your Excellency's most obedient servant, 
(Signed,) DAYID WILLS, 

For A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania. 



September 21st, 1863. 

Davhi Wills, Eiq., Age7it for A. G. Curtin, 

Governor of Pennsylvania : 

1">EAR Sir:— Yours of 15th inst., addressed to the Governor of 
Indiana, is received, and I am directed to reply that whatever arrange- 
ment you may make with other States interested, relative to the burial 
of the Union soldiers who fell at Gettysburg,. will be satisfactory. 

It will be entirely agreeable to Governor Morton to have the lion. 
Edward Everett deliver the oration on the occasion of the consecra- 
tion of the grounds, 2^ October next. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) W. II. H. TERRELL, 

Finaneial Secretariu 



• Gettysburg, October 13th, 1863. 

To His Excellency, (he Govenioi' of Indiana: 

Sir: — Hon. Edward Everett could not be here on the 22d inst., to 
deliver the oration at the proposed consecration of the Soldiers' 
Cemetery, but suggested that if we would postpone the time to the 
19th of November, he would cheerfully perform the duty. I took 
the liberty of writing to him that we would do so. The ground will 
therefore be set apart to its patriotic and sacred purpose on the 19th 
day of November next, with ceremonies appropriate to the occasion, 
and Hon. Edward Everett will deliver the address. 

Mr. Everett also suggested that it would make the scene more im- 
pressive to have the dead interred in the cemetery before that occa- 
sion, as the time of the consecration is late in the season, and proba- 
bly there might be a doubt about getting the work all done before 
winter sets in, if we postpone the commencement of the removals 
until after the exercises. I have adopted his suggestion, and am 
making arrangements to commence the work about the 26th of this 
month. 

The Secretary of War, on ray application, ordered the Quarter- 
master General to furnish us with the requisite number of coffins, and 
he will commence supplying us on and after the 20th inst., at the rate 
of one hundred per day. 

The Government also, on my application, sent Mr. W. M. Saunders 
here, who is one of the best landscape gardeners in the country, to 
design and plat the grounds. He is now at work, and at his sugges- 
tion, and in accordance Avith the desire of many of the States, he is 
laying it off in lots for each State. He will have the grounds ready 
by the 26th inst., when we expect to be ready to commence trans- 
ferring the bodies, 

I will give notice to receive sealed proposals for taking up, remov- 
ing and re-interring the bodies, and have it in #v^o distinct contracts, 
with full specifications, and require proper securities from the parties 
to whom t!)e contracts have been awarded. 

If you desire to send an Agent here to look especially after tlie 
dead of your State, and act generally for you in the matter, please do 
so by the 22d of this month. 

I will have reliable and disinterested men to superintend the remo- 
vals personally, who will require everything to be done right and 
with the greatest care. 



We will be unable to accomplish much more than the removals this 
fall. It is desirable that the Governors of the different States meet 
in consultation about the details of the plan, and I would suggest that 
there will be no more suitable time for such meeting than the 19th of 
November. 

I hope you will be present, with a large delegation from your State, 
to participate in the consecrative exercises. Ample railroad facilities 
are promised, and the citizens of this and the surrounding towns, 
easy of access by railroad, will generously do all they can to accom- 
date the people. 

I remain with great respect, 

Your Excellency's obedient servant, 
(Signed,) DAVID WILLS, 

Agent for A. G. Curtin, Governor oj- Pennsylvania. 



October 22d, 1863. 



David Wills, Esq.^ 

Agent ^c, Gettysburg, Pa. 



Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 13th inst. v/as duly received, 
and would have been answered several days ago but for the Gover- 
nor's absence. He now directs me to say, that he is much pleased 
with the change you appear to have made in your plan as set forth 
in your letter of 15th of September, that is to say, he thinks it will 
be much more satisfactory and appropriate to have the honored dead 
of Gettysburg interred in lots hy States than to place them altogether. 

Y^our general plan and the arrangements you have made for re-in- 
terments, meet with his approbation. 

The Governor cannot at this time state positively that he will be 
present at the consecration on the 19th of next month. His public 
duties may preclude the possibility of his leaving home : but if he 
can come it will be a great pleasure for him to do so. As soon as 
practicable please forward an estimate of Indiana's proportion of 
the cost of the cemetery, and share of expenses in semoving, re-inr 
terring her dead, itc. 

Very respectfully yours, 
(Signed,) W. H.. H. TERRELL, 

Financial SecVk 
S. N. C— 2 



10 

November 9th, 1863. 

[by telegraph.] 
J. G. Stevenson, Washington. 

Are you coming out here and when. I want you to go to Get- 
tysburg to make arrangements for the removal and burial of the 
Indiana Dead, I start to Washington next Monday. 

(Signed,) 0. P. MORTON. 



Getttsburg November 13th, 1863, 
[by telegraph.] 

Gov. Morton, 

Have arranged for removal and burial of our dead, engaged quar" 
ters for you for 19th, leave for Washington to night. 

(Signed,) JNO. G. STEPHENSON. 



Washington, D. C. I^ovembek 14th, 1863. 
Sis Excellency 0. P. Morton, Governor of Inoina 

Sir : — In compliance with the instructions contained in yonr 
telegram of the 9th, I went on the 11th inst. to Gettysburgh, Pa., 
" to make arrangements for the removal and burial of the Indiana 
dead," and found the following state of facts existing — viz : 

1st. The Soldiers Cemetery at that place had been laid out, and 
lots assigned to those States which had soldiers killed at the battle 
of Gettysburg, with lots reserved for the unknown dead. 

2nd. A conti'act had been made by the State of Pennsylvania for 
the removal and burial of all such Officers and Soldiers killed in that 
battle, or who died in hospitals near there as the agent of the Gov- 
ernor of that State might direct. 

3d. The work under this contract, had been some time in pro- 
gress, and all those who were killed on the 1st day of July, had 
been removed to the cemetery and buried there, including (probably) 
half of those from our State who were killed on that field. 



11 

4th. This work is being done under the inspection of persons not 
interested in the contract, with much care, careful search being made 
for any mark, paper, book or other thing that might determine the 
name of the individual, the regiment to which he belonged, or the 
State from which he came, all of which as far as they can be deter- 
mined are preserved, and care taken to perpetuate a knowledge of 
the precise spot in the cemetery where the body is buried. 

With this state of facts before me, I requested David Wills, Esq., 
Agent of the Governor of Pennsylvania, to direct the contractors to 
remove without delay the bodies of all soldiers from our State who 
were killed on the 2d and 3d days of July, or who died in hospitals. 
He has complied with that request and the work m\\ soon be done. 
I refrain from writing any further account of this work and its sur- 
roundings, because it will be expected that you will be present on the 
19th inst. at the formal consecration of that already consecrated 
ground, and can comprehend theia at sight easier than from any 
■description. 

1 have the honor to be, 

Your Excellency's obedient servant, 
(Signed,) JOHN G. STEPHENSON. 



Gettysburg, December 3d, 1863. 

To Sis Excellency Oliver. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir : — It is important that a definite course of action be speedily 
determined upon by the Governor's of the States interested in the 
National Cemetery, so that those whose Legislature meet in January 
may have the subject submitted to them for consideration. To effect 
that purpose a meeting of the Agents, or Commissioners from the 
different States is called to convene at the " Jones House" in Har- 
risburg. Pa., on Thursday the 17th inst. 

Will you please send a Commissioner to represent you at that 
meeting. 

I am with great respect, 

Your Excellency's obedient servant, 
(Signed,) DAViD WILLS, 

Agent for A, G. Curiin, Gov. of Pennsylvania. 



12 

December 7th, 1863. 

Dr. John G. Stephenson, Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. 

Sir : — You are hereby appointed a Commissioner on the part of 
the State of Indiana, to a conference of the Governors of the States 
interested in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg (or their repre- 
sentatives), to be held at the Jones House, in the city of Harrisburg 
on Thursday, the 17th inst , to take into consideration the affairs of 
said cemetery. 

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, 
[Signed] 0. P. MORTON. 



December 7th, 1864. 



Pr. Jno. G. Stephenson, Washington. 



Dear Sir : — Enclosed find authority to act as Commissioner on 
the part of Governor Morton, at a conference to be held at Harris- 
burg, 17th inst., to take into consideration matters relating to the 
National Cemetery at Gettysburgh. I also send you copies of all 
the correspondence between this Department and the General Super- 
vising Agent of the Cemetery, which will give you all the facts, plans, 
&c., so far as we are able to communicate. After the " conference '^ 
is over, please report to the Governor, with such suggestions as may 
occur to you. 

Very truly Yours, 
[Signed] W. H. H. TERREL, Financial Secretary. 



Gettysburgh, Pa., Dec. 19, 1863, 
To His Excellency, Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir: — His Excellency, Gov. Curtin, suggests that the names of the 
Trustees, to be appointed for the management of the Soldiers' Na- 
tional Cemetery here, as recommended in the second clause of the 
resolution embodied in the enclosed proceedings, be inserted in the 
act of incorporation. 

Will you do me the favor to nominate a Trustee from the State of 
Indiana, that we may have the bill prepared, with the names embodied 



13 

sn it, and ready to be passed by our Legislature, as soon as it may 
convene. 

I remain, with great respect, 

Your 'Excellency' 8 obedient servant, 
[Signed] DAVID WILLS, 

Agent for A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania. 



' Washington, D. C, Dec. 20, 1863. 

Hu Exeelleney, 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir : — In obedience to the instructions contained in your letter of 
the 7th inst., I have attended the conference of the representatives of 
Governors held at Harrisburg on the 17th inst., for the purpose of 
considering matters relating to the Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa. I 
send you the following, which is a correct report of the proceedings 
of the meeting : 

SOLDIERS' NATIONAL CEMETERY AT GETTYSBURG. 

Harrisburg, Dec. 17th, 1863. 

The Commissioners appointed by the Governors of the diflferent 
States, which have soldiers buried in the Soldiers' National Cemetery 
at Gettysburg, Pa., met at the Jones House in Harrisburg, Pa., at 3 
o'clock, P. M., on the 17th of December, 1863. 

The following named Commissioners were present, viz.: 

Hon. B. W. NoRRis, of Maine. 
Hon. L. B. Mason, of New Hampshire. 
Mr. Henry Edwards, of Massachusetts. 
Mr. Alfred Coit, of Connecticut. 
Hon. Levi Scobey, of New Jersey. 
Mr. David Wills, of Pennsylvania. 
Col. James Worrall, of Pennsylvania. 
Col. John S. Berry, of Maryland. 
Mr. L. W. Brown, of Ohio. 
Col. Gordon Lofland, of Ohio. 
Col. John G. Stephenson, of Indiana. 
Mr. W. Y. Selleck, of Wisconsin. 



14 

On motion of Col. Lofland, of Ohio, Mr. David Wills, of Pennsyl- 
vania, was elected Chairman of the Convention. 

On motion of Col. Stephenson, of Indiana, Mr. W. Y. Selleck, of 
Wisconsin, was elected Secretary of the Convention. 

After some discussion by the members of the Convention, Col. Ste- 
phenson, of Indiana, moved that a committee of four, of which the 
President of this Convention be one, be appointed for the purpose of 
preparing and putting in appropriate shape the details of the plan in 
reference to the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., to 
be presented to the Convention for their action, which was carried- 
The committee was appointed as follows : 

Chairman, Col. John Gr. Stephenson, of Indiana ; Mr. Henry Ed- 
wards, of Massachusetts, Hon. Levi Scobey, of New Jersey, Mr. Da- 
vid Wills, of Pennsylvania. 

On motion of Mr. Alfred Coit, of Connecticut, the Convention took 
a recess, to await the action of the Committee. 

The Convention met again at 5 o'clock, P. M., to hear the report 
of the committee. 

The committee made the following report : 

Whereas, In accordance with an invitation from David Wills, 
Esq., agent for his Excellency A.. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylva- 
nia, the Governors of the several States appointed Commissioners, 
who met at Harrisburg, December 17th, 1863, to represent the States 
in convention, for the purpose of making arrangements for finishing 
the Soldiers' National Cemetery : -therefore, be it 

Resolved^ By the said Commissioners in convention assembled, that 
the following be submitted to the different States interested in the 
"Soldiers' JSational Cemetery," through their respective Governors; 

Fird^ That the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall hold the title 
to the land which she has purchased at Gettysburg for the Soldiers' 
National Cemetery, in trust for States having soldiers buried in said 
Cemetery, in perpetuity for the purpose to which it is now applied. 

Second, That the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylva- 
nia be requested to create a Corporation, to be managed by Trustees, 
one to be appointed by each of the Governors of the States of Maine, 
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecti- 
cut, New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware 
West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota, and of such other States as may hereafter desire to be repre- 
sented in this Corporation, which Trustees shall, at their first meet- 
ing, be divided into three classes. The term of office of the first class 



15 

to expire on the first day of January, 1865. The second class on the 
first day of January, 1866. The third class on the first of January, 
1867. The vacancies thus occurring to be filled by the several Gov- 
ernors, and the persons thus appointed to fill such vacancies, to hold 
their oiBce for the term of three years. This Corporation to have 
exclusive control of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. 

Third, The following is the estimated expense of finishing the 
Cemetery : 

Enclosing grounds, $15,000 

Burial expenses, and superintending, 6,000 

Headstones, 10,000 

Laying out grounds, and planting trees^ 5,000 

Lodge, 2,500 

Monument, 25,000 

Total, $63,500 

Fourth, That the several States be asked to appropriate a sum of 
money, to be determined by a division of the estimated expenses ac- 
cording to representation in Congress, to be expended in defraying 
the cost of removing and re-interring the dead, and finishing the cem- 
etery, under directions of the Cemetery corporation. 

Fifth, When the cemetery shall have been finished, the grounds are 
to be kept in order, the house and enclosure in repair, out of a fund 
created by annual appropriations made by the States which may be 
represented in the cemetery corporation, in proportion to their rep- 
resentation in Congress. 

On motion of Col. Berry, of Maryland, the report of the committee 
■was accepted, and the committee discharged. 

It was moved by Col. Berry, of Maryland, that the report of the 
committee be considered seriatim, which was concurred in, and the 
report was then adopted in detail. 

Letters from the Governors of the following States were received 
by Mr. Wills, Chairman of the Convention, which were not repre- 
sented by Commissioners, expressing their disposition to approve any 
reasonable action of the Convention in reference to the completion 
of the cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa., viz.: 

Hon. Horatio Seymour, of New York. 
Hon. Austin Blair, of Michigan. 
Hon. James Y. Smith, of Rhode Island. 



16 

Hon. William Cannon, of Delaware. 
Hon. Henry G. Swift, of Minnesota. 

On motion of Mr. Scobey, of New Jersey, the following committee 
was appointed by the Chairman, with the view to procure designs of 
a monument to be erected in the cemetery : 

Hon. Levi Scobey, of New Jersey. 
Hon. B. W. Morris, of Maine. 
Mr. D. W. Brown, of Ohio. 
Col. J. G. Stephenson, of Indiana. 
Col. John S. Berry, of Maryland. 

On motion of Mr. Alfred Coit, of Connecticut, the plans and de- 
signs of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, as laid out and designed by 
Mr. Wm. Saunders, were adopted by the Convention. 

A motion was made by Mr. Coit, of Connecticut, returning thanks 
to Mr. Wm. Saunders for the designs and drawings furnished gratui- 
tously for the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pa.; which 
was un animously adopted. 

Mr. Brown, of Ohio, oflfered the following, which was adopted : 

Resolmd, That Mr. Wm. Saunders be authorized to furnish forty 
photographs of the plan of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, for the 
use of the States having soldiers buried therein. 

DAVID WILLS, President. 

W. Y. Selleck, Secretary. 

None of the Commissioners came to the meeting authorized to 
enter into a final arrangement, excepting the Commissioner from 
Pennsylvania and myself, so that the conclusion of the meeting (from 
which there were no dissenting voices) necessarily assumed the form 
of a recommendation to the several States, as will be seen in the 
printed report of the proceedings constituting a part of this report. 
I had hoped to receive a photographic copy of the plan of the 
cemetery in time to have made it a part of this report. I will send 
it to you as soon as received. 

The representatives of the Governors were entertained with ele- 
gance and cordiality at the Executive mansion of the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, by his Excellency Governor Curtin. 
I have the honor to be 

Your Excellency's obedient servant. 
(Signed,) JOHN G. STEPHENSON. 



17 



Executive Department of Indiana, 
December 30, 1863. 

David Wills, Esq., 

Supervising Agent National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa., 



}■ 



Sir : — In compliance with your request under date of 19th inst.^ 
I hereby nominate John G. Stevenson a member of the Board of 
Trustees for the management of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, on 
the part of the State of Indiana. 
Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) 0. P. MORTON, 

Governor of Indiana. 



[extract from gov. curtin's message.] 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1 
January 7, 1864. j 

After the battle of Gettysburg, In which loyal Volunteers from 
eighteen States, including Pennsylvania, were engaged, it appeared 
to me proper that all of those States should unite in establishing a 
cemetery on the spot, in which their soldiers who had fallen in that 
conflict, should be honorably interred. I accordingly appointed David 
Wills, Esq., of Gettysburg, my agent, and through him a site was 
purchased at a cost of two thousand four hundred and seventy-five 
dollars and eighty-seven cents, ($2,475 87,) and the conveyances 
made to the Commonwealth. 

On communicating with tho authorities of the other States, they 
all readily agreed to become parties to the arrangement, and on the 
19th day of November last, the cemetery was dedicated with appro- 
priate ceremonies, in the presence of the President of the United 
States, the Governors of the States concerned, and other high officers, 
State and National. On the 19th day of December, on the invita- 
tion of Mr. Wills, Commissioners representing the States interested 
in the cemetery, met in Harrisburg and agreed upon a plan for its 
improvement and care in the future, and the apportionment of the 
sum of money required, to the several States, which is herewith 
communicated. 



18 

.The expenses attending the establishment of this cemetery, inclu- 
ding the cost of site and of removing the bodies of the slain, have 
thus fur amounted to five thousand two hundred and nine dollars and 
thirty-eight cents, (^5,209 38) and an appropriation will be required 
to pay these expenses, and to meet our portion of those attending its 
future maintenance. 

It will appear by the proceedings of the Commissioners, that their 
due proportion of the expenses already incurred, are to be refunded 
by the States on whose account they were made. It is just to say 
that Mr. Wills has discharged his delicate and important duties with 
fidelity, and to my entire satisfaction. 



In the House of Representatives, "| 
Commonwealth of Pa., January 14, 1864. / 

Ordered^ That -the Select Committee to whom is referred so much 
of the Governor's message as relates to the Cemetery at Gettysburg, 
consist of Messrs. Lee, White, Bowman, (Lancaster,) Boyer and 
Labar. 

REPORT. 

Mr. Lee, from the Special Committee, to whom was transferred so 
much of the Governor's annual message to the Legislature of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, read January 7th, 1864, as relates 
to the Gettysburg Cemetery, made report : 

That they visited the grounds purchased by the State of Pennsyl- 
vania for the purpose of establishing a National Cemetery, in which 
to re-inter the bodies of our soldiers, who fell in the memorable three- 
days' conflict at Gettysburg, and found in progress active and judicious 
efforts, under competent and constant supervision, to have all the 
bodies of the Union soldiers, known and unknown, transferred to 
this, their final resting place. 

In view of the general interest manifested for this institution, 
your Committee felt that they were charged with the responsible duty 
of preparing a history of this cemetery and its purposes. 

The intervention of obvious difficulties to the completion of this 
work by your Committee, in a satisfactory manner, suggested the 
propriety of invoking the services of David Wills, Esq., of Gettys- 



19 

burg, Commissioner for Pennsylvania, who having in his possession 
all the facts necessary to an adequate description of the time, place 
and circumstances connected with this laudable enterprise, coupled 
with an intense and ardent devotion to its every detail, kindly con- 
sented to relieve their labors, by furnishing the following replete and 
deeply interesting history of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, which, 
together with the act of incorporation, approved by the Governor on 
the twenty-fifth day of March, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and 
sixty -four, your Committee desire to present as embodying their report. 
All of which is respectfully submitted. 

(Signed,) EDWARD G. LEE, 

L. B. LABAR, 
T. J. BOYER, 
ISAIAH WHITE, 
H. B. BOWMAN. 

NATIONAL CEMETERY. 

[from the printed report.] 

A few days after the terrific battle of Gettysburg, His Excellency^ 
A. G. Curtin, Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, hastening to 
the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers, visited the battle field, 
and numerous hospitals in and around Gettysburg, for the purpose of 
perfecting the arrangements for alleviating the suiferings and minis- 
tering to the wants of the wounded and dying. His official duties 
soon requiring his return to Harrisburg, he authorized and appointed 
David Wills, Esq., of Gettysburg, to act as his special agent in 
this matter. 

In traversing the battle field, the feelings were shocked and the 
heart sickened at the sights that presented themselves at every step. 
The remains of our brave soldiers, from the necessary haste with 
which they had been interred, in many instances were but partly 
covered with earth, and, indeed, in some instances, were left wholy 
unburied. Other sights, too shocking to be described, were occasion- 
ally seen. These appearances presented themselves promiscuously 
over the fields of arable land for miles around, which would, of 
necessity, be farmed over in a short time. The graves that were 
marked at all, were only temporarily so, and the marks were liable 
to be obliterated by action of the weather. Such was the spectacle 
■witnessed on going over the battle field — a field made glorious by 
victory achieved through the sacrifice of the lives of the thousands 



20 

of brave men whose bodies and graves were in such exposed condi- 
tion; and this, too, on Pennsylvania soil ! Humanity shuddered at 
the sight, and called aloud for a remedy. The idea, accordingly, 
suggested itself of taking means to gather these remains together, 
and bury them decently and in order in a cemetery. Mr. Wills sub- 
mitted the proposition and plan for this purpose by letter, July 24th, 
1863, to His Excellency, Governor Curtin ; and the Governor with 
that profound sympathy, and that care and anxiety for the soldier 
which have always characterized him, approved of the design, and 
directed that a correspondence be entered into at once by Mr. Wills, 
with the Governors of other States having soldiers on the battle field 
of Gettysburg. The Governors of the different States, with great 
promptness, seconded the project, and the details of the arrangement 
were subsequently agreed upon. Grounds favorably situated were 
selected by the agent, and Governor Curtin directed him to purchase 
them for the State of Pennsylvania, for the specific purpose of the 
burial of soldiers who fell in defence of the Union in the battle of 
Gettysburg, and that lots in this cemetery should be gratuitously ten- 
dered to each State having such dead on the field. 

The expenses of the removal of the dead, of the laying out, or- 
namenting, and enclosing the grounds, and erecting a lodge for the 
keeper, and of constructing a suitable monument to the memory of 
the dead to be borne by the several States, and assessed in propor- 
tion to their population, as indicated by their Representatives in 
Congress. The Governor of Pennsylvania stipulated that the State 
of Pennsylvania would subsequently keep the grounds in order, and 
the buildings and fences in repair. 

Seventeen acres of land on Cemetery Hill, at the apex of the 
triangular line of battle of the Union army, were purchased by 
Pennsylvania for this purpose. There were stone fences upon these 
grounds which had been advantageously used by the infantry. 

On the elevated portions of the ground, many batteries of artillery 
had been planted, which not only commanded the view of the whole 
line of battle of the Union army, but were brought to bear almost 
incessantly, with great effect, upon every position of the rebel lines. 
We refer the readier to the excellent map of this battle-field, and its 
hospitals in the front of this pamphlet. It was prepared by the 
Rev. Andrew B. Cross, who is one of the most active and zealous 
members of the Christian Commission, and who labored faithfully for 
months in the hospitals at Gettysburg, ministering to the temporal 
and spiritual wants ef tho wounded and dying soldiers. 



21 

The map gives the locality of the National Cemetery, as well aa 
many other points of interest connected with the battle-field. The 
Cemetery grounds were plotted and laid out in the original and ap- 
propriate style indicated by the plate accompanying this description 
by the rural architect Mr. William Saunders. 

Such was the origin of this final resting place of the remains of 
our departed heroes, who nobly laid down their lives a sacrifice on 
their country's altar, for the sake of universal freedom and the pre- 
servation of the Union. Who can estimate the importance to us and 
all posterity of their valor and heroism ? Their remains, above all 
others, deserve the highest honor that a grateful people can bestow 
on them. Their deeds will live in history long after their bodies 
have mouldered into dust ; and the place where they now lie honored, 
protected and preserved as a sad, but sacred memento of their brave 
conduct. 

The design contemplates the erection of a monument to the mem- 
ory of the dead ; and the situation which seems to meet with the 
greatest favor is in the center of the semi-circle of graves. It has 
been suggested, that each State having dead here, should contribute 
a slab or stone tablet, to be placed in the monument, wich the names 
engraved upon it of those whose graves are not identified, and who 
consequently are interred in the lots set apart for the unknown. 

The grounds are laid off in lots for each State, proportioned in 
size to the number of marked graves on the Gettysburg battle- 
field. 

There is also a lot set apart for the burial of the remains of those 
who belonged to the regular service. The graves of about one thjrd 
of the dead were unmarked ; but these bodies are deposited in prom- 
inent and honorable positions at each end of the semi-circular ar- 
rangement of the lots. The grounds naturally have a gradual slope 
in every direction from the center of the semi-circle to the circum- 
ference. Each lot is laid of in sections with a space of four feet for 
a walk between each section. The outer section is lettered A, and 
so on in alphabetical order. As the observer stands in the center of 
the semi-circle, facing the circumference, the burials are commenced 
at the right hand of the section in each lot, and the graves are num- 
bered from one up, numerically. A register is made of the number 
name, regiment and company of the occupant of each grave. Two 
feet space is allotted to each, and they are laid with their heads 
towards the center of the semi-circle. At the heads of the graves 
there is a stone wall, built up from the bottom as a foundation for 



22 

the head stones, which are to be placed along the ^Yhole length of 
each section, and on which, opposite each grave, will be engraved the 
name, regiment and company of the deceased. 

The head stones will be all alike in size, the design being wholly 
adopted to a symmetrical order, and one which combines simplicity 
and durability. No other marks will be permitted to be erected. 
There will be about twenty-nine hundred burials in the cemetery. 

An application was made by Mr. Wills to Hon. E. M. Stanton, 
Secretary of War, for coffins for the interment of the dead, and the 
Quarter Master General was promptly ordered to furnish them. The 
Secretary of War, also, with a liberal considerateness, afforded many 
facilities for the proper and honorable solemnization of the exercises 
of the 19th of November. The removals and burials are made with 
the greatest care, and under the strictest supervision. Every pre- 
caution is taken with the unmarked graves, and also, to prevent the 
marked graves from losing their identity, by defacement of the 
original temporary boards on which the names were written or cut by 
comrades in arms. The graves being all numbered, the numbers 
are registered every evening in a record bcok, with the names, com- 
pany and regiment. This register will designate the graves, should 
the temporary marks become defaced by the action of the weather, 
or be otherwise lost, before the permanent head stones are put in 
place. After the burials are all made, the graves are permanently 
marked, and the style of monument determined upon, a map will be 
prepared and lithographed, showing the number of each grave in 
each section, and a key be published with the map, giving the full 
inscription on the head stone, corresponding with the number. 

A few of the States sent Agents to Gettysburg to superintend the 
removal and burial of their dead, while most of them entrusted the 
arrangements for that purpose to the Agent of the State of Penn- 
sylvania. The Boston city authorities, in concert with the Governor 
of Massachusetts, sent an efficient committee to Gettysburg, who 
made the removals of the Massachusetts dead by their own special 
arrangement. The consecration of these cemetery grounds, was, in 
due time suggested by Governor Curtin. The name of Hon. Ed- 
ward Everett was submitted to the Governors of all States interested, 
as the orator to deliver the address on that occasion, and they unan- 
imously concurred in him as the person eminently suitable for the 
purpose. 

A letter of invitation was accordingly addressed to him, inviting 
him to deliver the oration. He accepted the duty, and the 19th of 



23 

November was fixed upon as the day. Hon. W. H. Lamon, the 
United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, was selected as 
the Chief Marshal of the civic procession, and to Major General . 
N. Couch, Commanding the Department of the Susquehanna, were 
committed the arrangements for the military. To all these gentle- 
men great credit is due for the admirable manner in which they dis- 
charged the duties of the positions assigned them, Birgfield's Brigade 
Band, of Philadelphia, was invited to furnish the music for the cere- 
monial of consecration, which was done gratuitously, and in a very 
acceptable manner. The Presidential party was accompanied by the 
marine band from the Navy yard at Washington, and the military 
detachment was attended by the brass band from Fort McHenry, 
Baltimore. 

The public generally were invited to be present and participate in 
these solemn exercises, and special invitations were sent to the Pre- 
sident and Vice President of the United States, and the members of 
the Cabinet — to Major General George G. Meade, commanding the 
Army of the Potomac, and, through him, to the officers and privates 
of that army which had fought so valiantly, and gained such a mem- 
orable victory on the Gettysburg battle-field and to Lieutenant 
General Winfield Scott, and Admiral Charles Stewart, the distin- 
guished and time honored representatives of the Army and Navy. 

The President of the United States was present, and participated 
in these solemnities, delivering a brief dedicatory address. The occa- 
sion was further made memorable by the presence of large represen- 
tations from the army and navy, of the Secretary of State of the Uni- 
ted States, the Ministers of France and Italy, the French Admiral, 
and other distinguished foreigners, and several members of Congress, 
also, of the Governors of a large number of the States interested, with 
their Staffs, and, in some instances, large delegations, besides a vast 
concourse of citizens from all the States. Letters were received, in 
reply to the invitations addressed to them, from Major General 
Meade, Lieutenant General Scott, Admiral Charles Stewart, and the 
Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. S. P. Chase, regretting their inabil- 
ity to be present, and expressive of their approval of the project. 

One of the most sad and impressive features of the solemnities of 
the 19th of November, was the presence, in the procession and on 
the grounds, of a delegation of about fifty wounded soldiers of the 
Army of the Potomac, from the York hospital. These men had been 
wounded in the battle of Gettysburg, and were present in delegation, 
to pay this just tribute to the remains of their fallen comrades. Dur- 



24 

ing the exercises their bronzed cheeks were frequently suflfused with 
tears, indicative of their heartfelt sympathy in the solemn scene be- 
fore them. From none others could tears of unfeigned grief fall up- 
on those graves with so much sad appreciation. 

These scarred veterans came and dropped the tear of sorrow on 
the last resting-place of those companions, by whose sides they so 
nobly fought, and, lingering over the graves after the crowd had dis- 
persed, slowly went away, strengthened in their faith in a nation's 
gratitude. 



REPORT OF DAVID WILLS, 

To the Honorable, the Committee of the House of Representatives of 
the Commonwealth of ^Pennsylvania, on the Soldiers' National Ceni' 
etery, at Gettysburg. 

The design for locating a place for the decent interment of the re- 
mains of our soldiers who fell in defense of the Union, in the battle 
of Gettysburg, was originated soon after that bloody conflict, in July 
last ; but was not consummated by the purchase of the grounds for 
the purpose, until August. A persistent effort was made by persons 
here, to have the soldiers buried in grounds controlled by the local 
Cemetery Association of this place. The plans proposed having the 
burials made at a stipulated price, to be paid the Cemetery Associa- 
tion. Failing in this project, these persons endeavored to connect 
the two cemeteries, so that they should both be in one enclosure, and 
all under the control, supervision and management of the local Cem- 
etery Association. 

As the agent of His Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania, I 
was in communication, by letter, and personally, for some time, with 
the representatives and citizens of other States, in reference to this 
proposed plan, and all were of decided opinion that the Soldiers' Cem- 
etery should be entirely distinct and disconnected with the local cem- 
etery ; that, to ensure success in obtaining concert of action among 
all the States, it must be made an independent, and the control and 
management of it be retained by the States interested. 

This whole matter was very thoroughly and impartially canvassed 
and discussed, and this conclusion arrived at and adopted. The 
grounds were subsequently laid out, and the burials made, in view of 
the National character of the project. His Excellency, Governor 



25 

Curtin, having authorized me to buy the grounds, and invite the other 
States interested to unite in the removal of the dead and improving 
the grounds, I immediately endeavored to purchase land on Cemetery 
Hill, and, after much difficulty, succeeded in buying five different lots 
lying on Ceiietery Hill, on the west side of the Baltimore turnpike, 
adjoining the local cemetery on the north and west. 

It is ground on which the centre of our line of battle rested July 
2d and od, and one of the most prominent and important positions on 
the v/hole battle-field. The lots were purchased for different prices 
per acre, according to their location, but at a very reasonable market 
price. Two lots were bought at the rate of |225 per acre ; one for 
.'$200 per acre; one for $150 per acre, and one for $135 per acre. 
The whole embraces about seventeen acres, and for the exact area 
and amount in each purchase, I refer you to the deeds on file in the 
Auditor General's office. The cemetery having assumed a Natioiial 
character, by being independent of any local controlling influences, 
the Governors of all the States having soldiers lying on this battle- 
field, after much correspondence and conference through commission- 
ers sent here for the purpose, committed their States to the projeq|t. 

I then made arrangements with Mr. William Saunders, an eminent 
landscape gardener, to lay out the grounds in State lots, apportioned 
in size according to the number of marked graves each State had on 
this battle-field. This number was obtained by having a thorough 
search made for all the graves, and a complete list of ihe names accu- 
rately taken. The grounds were accordingly very neatly and appro- 
priately laid out, and I refer you to the map of them. 

To preserve their identity, I deemed it very important to have the 
removals of the dead made as soon as possible. The marks at the 
graves were but temporary ; in many instances a small, rough board, 
on which the name was faintly written with a lead pencil. This would 
necessarily be effaced by the action of the weather, and the boards 
were also liable to be thrown down and lost. 

The. graves which were unmarked were in many instances level 
with the surface of the earth, and the grass and weeds were growing 
over them; and 'm the forests the fall of the leaves in the autumn 
v^ou'ld cover them so that they might be entirely lost. 

I therefore issued proposals for giving out the contract for dia- 

interring, removing, and burying, in the National Cemetery, all the 

Union dead on this battle-field. Thirty-four bids were handed in, 

varying in amount from $1.59 to $8.00. I awarded the work to F, 

r S. N. C.~3 



26 

U. Biesecker, the lowest bidder, for ^^1,59 per body. His duties are 
fully set forth in the specifications, which are embodied in the eon- 
tract. 

I tak«i pleasure in saying that the work under this contract has 
been done -with great care, and to my entire satisfaction. This is 
owing, in part, to the great care and attention bestowed by Mr. Sam- 
uel AVeaver, whom I employed to superintend the exhuming of the 
bodies. Through his untiring and faithful efforts, the bodies in many 
unmarked graves have been identified in various ways. Sometimes by 
letters, by receipts, by papers, certificates, diaries, memorandum 
books, photographs, marks on the clothing, belts, or cartridge boxes, 
&c., have the names of the soldiers been discoverc d. 

Money, and other valuables, have frequently been found ; which, 
where the residence of the friends is known, have been immediately 
sent to them. Those not returned to the friends are carefully packed 
up and marked, and every effort will be made to find the friends of 
the deceased, and place these articles in their possession. Words 
"would fail to describe the grateful relief that this Avork has brought to 
many a sorrowing household. A father, a brother, a son, has been 
lost on this battle-field, supposed to be killed, but no tidings whatever 
have the bereaved friends of him. Suddenly, in the progress of this 
work, his remains are discovered by sure marks, letters, probably 
photographs, &c., and they are deposited in a coffin, with care, and 
buried in this very appropriate place, on the battle-field where he 
fell— the Soldiers' National Cemetery. 

There his grave v,i\\ be properly cared for, and permanently marked 
The friends, who have probably written me several letters of inquiry, 
are immediately informed of the discovery. What a relief from 
agonizing hope and despair such certain information brings. 

After purchasing the grounds I made application to the Secretary 
of War for coflSns, for the burial of these dead, and he at once ap- 
proved of the application, and directed the Quartermaster General to 
furnish the number required for the purpose. 

These cemetery grounds were solemnly dedicated to their present 
saci'cd purpose by appropriate and imposing ceremonies, on Thurs- 
day, the 19th of November last. The public prints of that week con- 
tained full accounts of the proceedings. I refer you, also, to the 
acsompanying proceedings, embraced in this volume. 

I requested the Governors of the several States, having lots in the 
cemetery, to appoint Commissioners, to assemble at Harrisburg on the 
17th of December last, to adopt some uniform plan for the action of 



27 

the Legislature of the different States. Twelve States were repre- 
sented, and the other five signified in advance their assent to any 
reasonable action of the convention. I herewith refer you to the re- 
port of the proceedings uf the convention. 

The estimated expenses of finishing tlie cemetcr}' are ^63.500, and 
it is proposed to divide the same among the different States having 
lots in the cemetery, in the ratio of their representation in Congress. 

The Legislatures of other States are acting in tliis matter, and 
making the appropriations in the proportion as above indicated. Be- 
sides making this appropriation, an additional duty devolves upon the 
Legislature of Pennsylvania. For the management and care of the 
grounds, and the completion of the work, it is necessary to have a 
corporate body; and the State of Pennsylvania is requested, through 
her Legislature, to establish, by her letters patent, this corporation of 
the " Soldiers' National Cemetery." This should be done without 
delay. It will necessarily require some time for the Board of Mana- 
gers to meet and organize, and in the meantime the work, which 
should be progressing, is delayed. It is especially desirable that the 
Legislature act upon this matter at once, so that the organization may 
be perfected. Upon this Board of Managers, composed of one from 
each State that have soldiers dead here, will devolve the completion 
of the project, and the future care of the grounds. 

;!; :!< * * * ;;-, ^: ^t 

All of which is respectfully submitted. 

(Signed,) DAVID WILLS, 

Agent for A. G. Cwtin, Governor of Pennsylvania. 
GsTTYSBURu, March 21, 1864. 



REPORT OF SAMUEL WEAVER. 

Gettysburg, March 19, 1864. 

To David Wills, Bsq., 

Agent for A. G. Curtin, Governor of Pennsylvania, 

Sir: — I herewith submit the following brief report of the results 
of my labors as the supcrintendant of the exhuming of the bodies of 
the Union soldiers, that fell on the battle-field of Gettysburg : 

The eont-actor commenced the work of exhuming on Tuesday, the 
27th of October, last, and finished yesterday. The work has been pro- 
ti:acted much beyond our original anticipations, by reason of the ground 



28 

being frozen for a long time during the winter, thus entirely suspend- 
ing the work, and also bj the number of bodies exceeding our firigt cal- 
culations. The number taken up and removed to the Soldiers' 
National Cemetery, is thirty-three hundred and fifty-four, (3,354,) and 
to those add the number of Massachusetts soldiers taken up by the 
authorities of the city of Boston, by speci:il contract, amounting to 
one hundred and fifty-eight, (158,) makes the number of removals 
thirty-five hundred and twelve (3 512) bodies. Of these, nine 
hundred and seventy-nine (979,) were bodies nameless, and without 
any marks or surroundings to designate the State from which they 
volunteered. The rest were, in most instances, marked with boards, 
on which the name, company and regiment, were written in pencil, or 
cut by their comrades who buried them. 

In some instances the regiment to which the soldier belonged was 
discovered, and sometimes only the State from which they volunteered ; 
and in those cases they were buried in their appropriate State lot. 
There was not a grave permitted to be opened nor a body searched 
unless I was present. I was inflexible in enforcing this rule, and 
here caa say with the greatest satisfaction to myself and to the 
friends of the soldiers, that I saw every body taken out of its tempo- 
rary restiiig place and all the pockets carefully searched ; and when 
the grave was not marked, I examined all the clothing and everything 
about the body, to find the name. I then saw the body, with all the 
hair, and all the particles of bone, carefully placed in the coffin, and 
if there was a head board, I required it at once to be nailed to the 
coffin. At the same time I wrote the name, company and regiment, 
of the soldier on the coffin, and numbered the coffin, and entered in 
my book the same endorsement. This book was returned to your 
office every evening, to copy atid compare with the daily return made 
by the Superintendent of the interments in the ceinetery. In these 
scrutinizing searches, the names of a number of lost soldiers were 
fourid. They were discovered in various ways. Sometimes by the 
pocket diaries, by letters, by names in Bible or Testament, by photo- 
graps, names in pocket-books, descriptive lists, express receipts, med- 
als, names on some part of the clothing, or on belt or cartridge-box, &c. 
There were some articles of value found on the bodies ; some 
money, watches, jewelry, &c. I took all relics, as well as all articles 
of value, from the bodies, packed them up and labeled them, so that 
the friends can get them. There are many things valueless to others, 
■which would be of great interest to the friends. I herewith submit a 
st of persons and articles found upon them, and you will, no doubt, 



29 

take means to get information to the friends, by advertisement or 
otherwise, so that they may give notice where, and to whom, these 
things shall be forwarded. I have two hundred and eighty-seven 
packages. 

Before we commenced our work the battle-field had been overrun 
by thousands of sorrowing friends, in search of lost ones, and many 
of the graves had been opened, and but partially or carelessly closed. 
Many of the undertakers who were removing bodies, also performed 
their work in the most careless manner, invariably leaving the graves 
open, and often leaving particles of the bones and hair scattered 
around. These things are frequently to be seen on every pai'tof the 
battle-field ; and persons going over it might attribute such work to 
the contractors, but there cannot be one instance pointed out of such 
kind of work done by them. Every particle of the body was gathered 
up by them, and the grave neatly closed over and levelled. The 
bodies were found in various stages of decomposition. 

On the battle of the first day the rebels obtained possession before 
our men were buried, and left most of them unburied from Wednes- 
day until Monday following, when our men buried them. After this 
length of time they could not be identified, and consequently but few 
on the battle-field of July the 1st, were marked. They were generally 
covered with a small portion of earth, dug up from along-side of the 
body ; this left them much exposed to the heat, air and rains, and 
they decomposed rapidly, so that when these bodies were taken up, 
there were nothing remaining but dry skeletons. 

Where bodies were in heavy clay soil, or in marshy places, they 
were in a good state of preservation ; where they were in sandy, 
porous soil, they were entirely decomposed. Frequently our men 
"were buried in trenches — shallow ditches — in which they were laid 
side by side. In several instances the number in a trench amounted 
to sixty or seventy bodies. 

In searching for the remains of our fallen heroes, we examined 
more than three thousand rebel graves. They were frequently buried 
in trenches, and there are instances of more than one hundred and 
fifty in a trench. In one place, it is asserted by a reliable farmer, 
who saw them buried, that there are over two hundred in one trench 
I have been making a careful estimate, from time to time, as I wen 
over the field, of the rebel bodies buried on this battle-field, and at 
the hospitals, and 1 place the number at not less than seven thousand 
bodies. It may be asked how we could distinguish the bodies of our 
men from those of the rebels. This was generally very easily don 



30 

In the first place, as a general rule, the rebels never went into battle 
with the United States coat on. They sometimes stole the panta- 
loons from our dead, and wore them, but not the coat. The rebel 
clothing is made of cotton, and is of a grey or brown color. Occa- 
sionally I found one with a blue cotton-jean roundabout on. The 
clothing of our men is of vrool, and blue ; so that the body having 
the coat of our uniform on, was a pretty sure indication that he was 
a Union soldier. But if the body were without a coat, then there 
were other infallible marks. The shoes of the rebels were differently 
made from those of our soldiers. If these failed, then the under- 
clothing was the next part examined. The rebel cotton under-shirt 
gave proof of the army to which he belonged. In no instance was 
the body allowed to be removed which had any portion of the rebel 
clothing on it. Taking all these things together, we never had much 
trouble in deciding, with infallible accuracy, whether the body was 
that of a Union soldier, or a rebel. And I here most conscientiously 
assert, that I firmly believe that there has not been a single mistake 
made in the removal of the soldiers to the Cemetery, by taking the 
body of a rebel for a Union soldier. 

All of which is respectfully submitted, 
(Signed) SAMUEL WEAVER. 



NUMBER OF BURIALS, 

7ft each State Lot in the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Penn- 
sylvania. 

Maine, 104 

New Hampshire, 46 

Vermont, -.. 61 

Massachusetts, 158 

Rhode Island, *. 12 

Connecticut, 22 

New York, 860 

New Jersey, 77 

Pennsylvania,. . 501 

Delaware, 15 

Maryland, 21 

Virginia, 11 

Ohio, 131 



31 

Indiana , 79 

Illinois, Q 

Michigan 166 

Wisconsin, 71 

Minnesota, 56 

U.S. Regulars, 1.S6 

Unknown — North, 411 

Unknown — South, 425 

" Inner Circle, 143 

Total, 3,512 



Gettysburg, Pa., April 18, 1864. 

At a meeting of the Commissioners constituting the Board of Man- 
agers of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, held on the 7th day of 
April, A. D. 1864, the following resolution was adopted : 

'■'liesolved, That the President be authorized and directed to make 
application to the respective States, for such portion of their quota, 
as shall, fr6m time, be requisite for carrying on the work." 



To Sis Exeellency^ 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir: — By virtue of the authority contained in the resolution of 
which the above is a copy, I hereby make application to the State of 
Indiana for the sum of one thousand, one hundred and fifty-six dol- 
lars, to be paid by Samuel R. Russell, Treasurer of the Soldiers' Na- 
tional Cemetery, being twenty-five per cent of the sum of sixty-three 
thousand, five hundred dollars, apportioned among the several States 
represented in the Corporation of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, 
according to their population as indicated by their representation in 
the House of Representatives of the United States. 
Fractional parts to be adjusted on final settlement. 
I am, with respect, your obedient servant, 
[Signed] DAVID WILLS, 

President of the Soldiers' National Ceinetery. 



32 

Gettysburg, Pa., April 18, 1864. 
Hi» Excellency^ 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana. 

Sir : — I enclose you my official application on your State for 
twenty-five per cent, of its proportionate share of $63,500, for the 
Soldiers' National Cemetery. There has been over $8,000 already 
expended, in laying out the grounds, and temporarily enclosing them, 
and exhuming and burying the dead. 

Our State Treasurer advanced $2,192.61 on this account in the 
commencement of the work, and then declined doing anything further 
until there was an appropriation for the purpose. I then made 
arrangements, privately, for sufficient funds to finish such of the work 
as was necessary to be done promptly, so as to preserve the identity 
of the marked graves. 

We have brought in, during the last week, twenty-two more bodies, 
and have had a thorough search made again over every part of the 
battle-field, and I think we have found and removed all our dead. 

I am now making arrangements to push forward the work of enclo- 
sing the grounds permanently as speedily as possible. The Treasu- 
rer has given bond in $25,000, -with three good sureties, and it has 
been approved by our court and recorded. This bond is highly satis- 
factory. Please have your remittance made promptly, and notify me, 
so that I may have an account of the money paid into the Treasurer's 
hands. 

You will also require him to send the proper State authorities his 
official receipt of the amount paid him on account of the propor- 
tionate share of Indiana. 

I remain your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) ' DAVID WILLS, 

President of fhe Soldiers' JVational Cemelery. 



Executive Department of Indiana, \ 
Bureau of Finance, Indianapolis, May 27, 1864. j 

Soldiers' National Cemetery. 

No. 2,252. Fletcher's Bank pay to Samuel R. Bussell, or bearer 
eleven hundred and fifty-six dollars, for first assessment of Indiana's 
share, expense Soldiers' National Cemetery, 

$1,156.00. (Signed,) P. MORTON, 

Governor of Indiana^ 



33 

Soldiers' National Cemetery, Treasurer's Office, \^ 
Gettysburg, Pa., June 1, 1864. j 

Received of the State of Indiana, by Oliver P. Morton, tlie sum of 
one thousand one hundred and fifty-six dollars, being twenty-five per 
cent, of the amount assessed against the State of Indiana for her 
quota of the cost and expenses of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, 
by the Board of Managers. 
"$1,156.00. (Signed,) S.R.RUSSELL, 

Treasurer Soldiers' National Cemeierv, 



May 27, 186L 

Samuel B. IlusseU, Treasurer Soldiers' National Cemetery, 
Gettysburg, Pa.: 

Sir : — Inclosed find draft in your favor for the sum of one thous- 
and one hundred and fifty-six dollars, (.?1,156), amount assessed 
against the State of Indiana by the Board of Managers, as the first 
installment, being twenty-five per cent, of her quota of the cost and 
expenses of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. 
Please sign and return to me the enclosed receipt. 
By order of Governor Morton. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) W. H. II. TERRELL, 

Financial Secretary. 



May 27,1864. 

Daind Wills, Esq., President Board of Managers, Gettysburg, Pa. : 

giR: — Governor Morton has this day transmitted to Mr. Samuel R. 
Russell, Treasurer, a draft for the sum of eleven hundred and fifty- 
six dollars, (^1,156.00,) being twenty-five per cent, of the quota of 
cofrt and expenses incurred in establishing the National Cemetery, due 
from the State of Indiana, as per your requisition on file. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
(Signed,) W. II. II. TERRELL, 

Financial Secretary^ 



Gextysbukc, October 31, 1864. 
To His Excellency y 0. P. Morton, Governor of Indiana: 

Bj virtue of authority given rae by a resolution of the Board of 
Managers of the Soldiers' National Cemetery Association, passed 
April 7th, 18G4, I hereby make application to the State of Indiana 
for the sum of three thousand four hundred and sixty-nine dollars 
and eighty-three cents, ($3,469.83.) to be paid to Samuel R. Russell, 
Treasurer of the Soldiers' National Cemetery ; being the balance of 
the sum of sixty- three thousand five hundred dollars, apportioned 
among the several States represented in the Soldiers' National Cem- 
etery, according to the population, as indicated by their representa- 
tion in the House of Representatives of the United States. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, andafiixed the 
seal of the corporation of the Soldiers' National Cemetery Associa- 
tion, at Gettysburg, Pa., this 21st day of October, A. D., 1864. 
(Signed,) DAVID WILLS, 

Preddeyit of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. 



STATEMENT. 

Original estimated cost of completing Cemetery, §63,o00. 
Apportionment among 17 States, having in Congress 151 Repre- 
sentatives, ^4'20.o3 to each Representative, 
Indiana has 11 Representatives. 

Total amount of proportion of Indiana $4,625 S3 

1864, June 1st, credited by cash paid S. R. Russell, 

Treasurer 1,156 00 

'Balance, for which requisition has been made $3,469 83 



November 30, 1864. 

David Wills, Esq., President Soldiers' National Cemetery, 
Gettysburg, Pa.: 
Sir: — Your letter of the 31st ult., addressed to Colonel W. H. H. 
Terrell, late Financial Secs>etary to the Governor, has been referred 



to mc, with instructions to infovra you that your requisition for ^3,- 
469.83, upon the State of Indiann, being the balance of her propor- 
tion of the expenses of cstabhshing and completing the Soldiers' 
National Cemetery at Gettysburg, can not be met until an appropria- 
tion is made by the Legislature for that purpose. 

The Legislature Avill convene on the fifth day of January next, at 
which time the Governor will present the whole matter, and recom- 
mend that the appropriation be promptly made. 
I am with respect, ilc., 

Yours truly, 

"JNO. C. NEW, 
Financial Secretary. 



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